Chickweed

Chickweed, Stellaria media, is native to Europe and its botanic name means star-like. It grows well in disturbed areas and cultivated fields and herbalists used it to cool and moist irritated and inflammed tissues.

FAMILY

Caryophyllaceae

OTHER NAMES

BOTANIC CHARACTERISTICS

Chickweed is a fast-growing, clump-forming and spreading herbaceous annual often found in rich and moist soil. The tiny white flowers are star-shaped with 5 sepals and 5 petals (each so deeply cleft it looks like there are 10 petals in total but there are only 5). The leaves are green-yellow, oval and grow opposite along the hairy stem. The easiest way to identify chickweed is to look for the line of fine hairs that grow in a single band along the stem and on the sepals. You might need a magnifying glass to see these hairs.

PROPERTIES

ENERGETICS

Bitter, sweet, cool, moist

TASTE

Earthy

ODOR

Mild

MEDICINAL USE OF CHICKWEED

Chickweed is used to cool and moisten irritated and inflamed tissues. It is high in saponin which is a compound that produces lather when agitated. This soap-like foam is caused by the emulsification of fat-soluble aglycones and water-soluble sugars and increases the permeability of cellular membranes. This means an increased ability to absorb nutrients, break down excess fats, expel excess mucus and modulate inflammation.

Take internally for:

Relieving unproductive cough

Bronchitis

Sore throat

Fever (but not for when someone has a fever and feels cold)

Increasing nutrient absorption

Soothing irritation of the urinary tract (combined with Yarrow or cranberry)